1969-1983, Robert Ray

Title

Subject

Description

Robert D. Ray was born on September 26, 1928 in Des Moines, Iowa., the son of Clark and Mildren Ray.Ray graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines where he was captin of the Basketball team. After graduation, he served in Japan with the U.S.Army. He earned degrees in Business Administration and Law at Drake University where he was president of the student body and of several professional, social and honorary fraternities. He also received an honoary degree and Distinguished Alumnus Award from Drake, and the Order of the Coif from the Drake Law School. While at Drake, Ray married Billie Lee Hornberger, a native of Columbus Junction, Iowa. They had three daughters - Randi, Lu Ann and Vicki. Ray developed an active law practice in Des Moines and served for a while as a law and reading clerk in the Iowa Senate. While he was a trial attorney, Ray became a member of the Republican State Central Committee and, in 1963, State Chairman of the Republican party. Ray was first elected Governor of Iowa in 1968. He was re-elected in 1970, 1972, 1974, and 1978, winning an unprecedented fifth term by a wide margin. While in office, Ray introduced and expanded the elderly tax credit. He pushed for the removal of the sales tax on food and drugs, and initiated the first state revenue sharing with local communities. The Governor first proposed the Iowa Tuition Grant Program for private college students and appointed the innovative Iowa 2000 futures committee. Governor Ray reorganized Iowa's pollution-fighting agenices into a single Department of Environmental Quality.He also proposed the much-needed Department of Transportation. In 1975 his administration permitted 13, 000 southeast Asian refugees to settle in Iowa, including the Tai Dam. He was an advocate of the nickel deposit on aluminum cans. In 1978, he recommended a sweeping urban revitalization plan to the Iowa legislature.Earlier he had accomplished reform of Iowa's judicial system and began the Citizen's Aide Office to help Iowans with their problems. As Governor, Ray chaired the National Governors' Association and the Republican Governors' Association. He also chaired the Midwest Governors' Conference and was President of the Council of State Governments. Governor Ray was one of six Governors in one of the first groups invited to tour the People's Republic of China in 1974. One year later, Ray joined seven other Governors on a mission to the Soviet Union. Ray led delegations of Governors to Japan twice and represented the United States at independence ceremonies for the new nation of Papua, New Guinea, in 1975. Governor Ray stressed problem-solving government, ititiated conservatin and environmental protection programs, engineered reorganization of state government, promoted agricultural and economic developemtn, kicked off work to revitalized Iowa's railroads and launced Iowa into energy management and research. A popular governor during his fourteen-year administration, he has continued to be extremely active in public affairs in Iowa since leaving the capitol, serving as interim Mayor of the City of Des Moines, President of Drake University, and leading several statewide educational awareness efforts and fundraising campaigns. During Ray's time in office, the Iowa Constitution was modified, increasing the Governor's term of office from two years to four years. Robert D. Ray was born on September 26, 1928 in Des Moines, Iowa., the son of Clark and Mildren Ray.Ray graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines where he was captin of the Basketball team. After graduation, he served in Japan with the U.S.Army. He earned degrees in Business Administration and Law at Drake University where he was president of the student body and of several professional, social and honorary fraternities. He also received an honoary degree and Distinguished Alumnus Award from Drake, and the Order of the Coif from the Drake Law School. While at Drake, Ray married Billie Lee Hornberger, a native of Columbus Junction, Iowa. They had three daughters - Randi, Lu Ann and Vicki. Ray developed an active law practice in Des Moines and served for a while as a law and reading clerk in the Iowa Senate. While he was a trial attorney, Ray became a member of the Republican State Central Committee and, in 1963, State Chairman of the Republican party. Ray was first elected Governor of Iowa in 1968. He was re-elected in 1970, 1972, 1974, and 1978, winning an unprecedented fifth term by a wide margin. While in office, Ray introduced and expanded the elderly tax credit. He pushed for the removal of the sales tax on food and drugs, and initiated the first state revenue sharing with local communities. The Governor first proposed the Iowa Tuition Grant Program for private college students and appointed the innovative Iowa 2000 futures committee. Governor Ray reorganized Iowa's pollution-fighting agenices into a single Department of Environmental Quality.He also proposed the much-needed Department of Transportation. In 1975 his administration permitted 13, 000 southeast Asian refugees to settle in Iowa, including the Tai Dam. He was an advocate of the nickel deposit on aluminum cans. In 1978, he recommended a sweeping urban revitalization plan to the Iowa legislature.Earlier he had accomplished reform of Iowa's judicial system and began the Citizen's Aide Office to help Iowans with their problems. As Governor, Ray chaired the National Governors' Association and the Republican Governors' Association. He also chaired the Midwest Governors' Conference and was President of the Council of State Governments. Governor Ray was one of six Governors in one of the first groups invited to tour the People's Republic of China in 1974. One year later, Ray joined seven other Governors on a mission to the Soviet Union. Ray led delegations of Governors to Japan twice and represented the United States at independence ceremonies for the new nation of Papua, New Guinea, in 1975. Governor Ray stressed problem-solving government, ititiated conservatin and environmental protection programs, engineered reorganization of state government, promoted agricultural and economic developemtn, kicked off work to revitalized Iowa's railroads and launced Iowa into energy management and research. A popular governor during his fourteen-year administration, he has continued to be extremely active in public affairs in Iowa since leaving the capitol, serving as interim Mayor of the City of Des Moines, President of Drake University, and leading several statewide educational awareness efforts and fundraising campaigns. During Ray's time in office, the Iowa Constitution was modified, increasing the Governor's term of office from two years to four years. Robert D. Ray was born on September 26, 1928 in Des Moines, Iowa., the son of Clark and Mildren Ray.Ray graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines where he was captin of the Basketball team. After graduation, he served in Japan with the U.S.Army. He earned degrees in Business Administration and Law at Drake University where he was president of the student body and of several professional, social and honorary fraternities. He also received an honoary degree and Distinguished Alumnus Award from Drake, and the Order of the Coif from the Drake Law School. While at Drake, Ray married Billie Lee Hornberger, a native of Columbus Junction, Iowa. They had three daughters - Randi, Lu Ann and Vicki. Ray developed an active law practice in Des Moines and served for a while as a law and reading clerk in the Iowa Senate. While he was a trial attorney, Ray became a member of the Republican State Central Committee and, in 1963, State Chairman of the Republican party. Ray was first elected Governor of Iowa in 1968. He was re-elected in 1970, 1972, 1974, and 1978, winning an unprecedented fifth term by a wide margin. While in office, Ray introduced and expanded the elderly tax credit. He pushed for the removal of the sales tax on food and drugs, and initiated the first state revenue sharing with local communities. The Governor first proposed the Iowa Tuition Grant Program for private college students and appointed the innovative Iowa 2000 futures committee. Governor Ray reorganized Iowa's pollution-fighting agenices into a single Department of Environmental Quality.He also proposed the much-needed Department of Transportation. In 1975 his administration permitted 13, 000 southeast Asian refugees to settle in Iowa, including the Tai Dam. He was an advocate of the nickel deposit on aluminum cans. In 1978, he recommended a sweeping urban revitalization plan to the Iowa legislature.Earlier he had accomplished reform of Iowa's judicial system and began the Citizen's Aide Office to help Iowans with their problems. As Governor, Ray chaired the National Governors' Association and the Republican Governors' Association. He also chaired the Midwest Governors' Conference and was President of the Council of State Governments. Governor Ray was one of six Governors in one of the first groups invited to tour the People's Republic of China in 1974. One year later, Ray joined seven other Governors on a mission to the Soviet Union. Ray led delegations of Governors to Japan twice and represented the United States at independence ceremonies for the new nation of Papua, New Guinea, in 1975. Governor Ray stressed problem-solving government, ititiated conservatin and environmental protection programs, engineered reorganization of state government, promoted agricultural and economic developemtn, kicked off work to revitalized Iowa's railroads and launced Iowa into energy management and research. A popular governor during his fourteen-year administration, he has continued to be extremely active in public affairs in Iowa since leaving the capitol, serving as interim Mayor of the City of Des Moines, President of Drake University, and leading several statewide educational awareness efforts and fundraising campaigns. During Ray's time in office, the Iowa Constitution was modified, increasing the Governor's term of office from two years to four years.

Publisher

State Library of Iowa and State Historical Society of Iowa

Date

Contributor

Iowa Official Register, Wikipedia

Rights

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